Red-Letter King James Bible 1769 Edition (KJV)

1 Kings 20

1 Ben-hadad, not content with Ahab's homage, besiegeth Samaria. 13 By the direction of a prophet, the Syrians are slain. 22 As the prophet forewarned Ahab, the Syrians, trusting in the valleys, come against him in Aphek. 28 By the word of the prophet, and God's judgment, the Syrians are smitten again. 31 The Syrians, submitting themselves, Ahab sendeth Ben-hadad away with a covenant. 35 The prophet, under the parable of a prisoner, making Ahab judge himself, denounceth God's judgment against him.

 20:1 ¶ And Benhadad 1130 the king 4428 of Syria 758 gathered y6908 z0 all his host y2428 together: 6908 z8804 x853 x3605 x2428 and [there were] thirty 7970 and two 8147 kings 4428 with x854 him, and horses, 5483 and chariots: 7393 and he went up 5927 z8799 and besieged 6696 z8799 x5921 Samaria, 8111 and warred 3898 z8735 against it.

 20:2 And he sent 7971 z8799 messengers 4397 to x413 Ahab 256 king 4428 of Israel 3478 into the city, 5892 and said 559 z8799 unto him, Thus x3541 saith 559 z8804 Benhadad, 1130

 20:3 Thy silver 3701 and thy gold 2091 [is] mine; thy wives 802 also and thy children, 1121 [even] the goodliest, 2896 [are] mine.

 20:4 And the king 4428 of Israel 3478 answered 6030 z8799 and said, 559 z8799 My lord, 113 O king, 4428 according to thy saying, 1697 I x589 [am] thine, and all x3605 that x834 I have.

 20:5 And the messengers 4397 came again, 7725 z8799 and said, 559 z8799 Thus x3541 speaketh 559 z8804 Benhadad, 1130 saying, 559 z8800 Although x3588 I have sent 7971 z8804 unto x413 thee, saying, 559 z8800 Thou shalt deliver 5414 z8799 me thy silver, 3701 and thy gold, 2091 and thy wives, 802 and thy children; 1121

 20:6 Yet x3588 I will send 7971 z8799 x853 my servants 5650 unto x413 thee to morrow 4279 about x518 this time, 6256 and they shall search 2664 z8765 x853 thine house, 1004 and the houses 1004 of thy servants; 5650 and it shall be, 1961 z8804 [that] whatsoever x3605 is pleasant 4261 in thine eyes, 5869 they shall put 7760 z8799 [it] in their hand, 3027 and take [it] away. 3947 z8804

 20:7 Then the king 4428 of Israel 3478 called 7121 z8799 all x3605 the elders 2205 of the land, 776 and said, 559 z8799 Mark, 3045 z8798 I pray you, x4994 and see 7200 z8798 how x3588 this x2088 [man] seeketh 1245 z8764 mischief: 7451 for x3588 he sent 7971 z8804 unto x413 me for my wives, 802 and for my children, 1121 and for my silver, 3701 and for my gold; 2091 and I denied 4513 z8804 x4480 him not. x3808

 20:8 And all x3605 the elders 2205 and all x3605 the people 5971 said 559 z8799 unto x413 him, Hearken 8085 z8799 not x408 [unto him], nor x3808 consent. 14 z8799

 20:9 Wherefore he said 559 z8799 unto the messengers 4397 of Benhadad, 1130 Tell 559 z8798 my lord 113 the king, 4428 All x3605 that x834 thou didst send 7971 z8804 for to x413 thy servant 5650 at the first 7223 I will do: 6213 z8799 but this x2088 thing 1697 I may 3201 z8799 not x3808 do. 6213 z8800 And the messengers 4397 departed, y3212 z8799 x1980 and brought 7725 z0 him word 1697 again. y7725 z8686

 20:10 And Benhadad 1130 sent 7971 z8799 unto x413 him, and said, 559 z8799 The gods 430 do x6213 so y6213 z8799 x3541 unto me, and more x3254 also, y3254 z8686 x3541 if x518 the dust 6083 of Samaria 8111 shall suffice 5606 z8799 for handfuls 8168 for all x3605 the people 5971 that x834 follow 7272 me.

 20:11 And the king 4428 of Israel 3478 answered 6030 z8799 and said, 559 z8799 Tell 1696 z8761 [him], Let not x408 him that girdeth 2296 z8802 on [his harness] boast y1984 z8691 himself x1984 as he that putteth it off. 6605 z8764

 20:12 And it came to pass, x1961 when [Benhadad] heard 8085 z8800 x853 this x2088 message, 1697 as he x1931 [was] drinking, 8354 z8802 he x1931 and the kings 4428 in the pavilions, 5521 that he said 559 z8799 unto x413 his servants, 5650 Set 7760 z8798 [yourselves in array]. And they set 7760 z8799 [themselves in array] against x5921 the city. 5892

 20:13 ¶ And, behold, x2009 there came 5066 z8738 a 259 prophet 5030 unto x413 Ahab 256 king 4428 of Israel, 3478 saying, 559 z8799 Thus x3541 saith 559 z8804 the LORD, 3068 Hast thou seen 7200 z8804 x853 all x3605 this x2088 great 1419 multitude? 1995 behold, x2009 I will deliver 5414 z8802 it into thine hand 3027 this day; 3117 and thou shalt know 3045 z8804 that x3588 I x589 [am] the LORD. 3068

 20:14 And Ahab 256 said, 559 z8799 By whom? x4310 And he said, 559 z8799 Thus x3541 saith 559 z8804 the LORD, 3068 [Even] by the young men 5288 of the princes 8269 of the provinces. 4082 Then he said, 559 z8799 Who x4310 shall order 631 z8799 the battle? 4421 And he answered, 559 z8799 Thou. x859

 20:15 Then he numbered 6485 z8799 x853 the young men 5288 of the princes 8269 of the provinces, 4082 and they were x1961 two y8147 hundred 3967 and thirty 7970 two: 8147 and after 310 them he numbered 6485 z8804 x853 all x3605 the people, 5971 [even] all x3605 the children 1121 of Israel, 3478 [being] seven 7651 thousand. 505

 20:16 And they went out 3318 z8799 at noon. 6672 But Benhadad 1130 [was] drinking 8354 z8802 himself drunk 7910 in the pavilions, 5521 he x1931 and the kings, 4428 the thirty 7970 and two 8147 kings 4428 that helped 5826 z8802 him.

 20:17 And the young men 5288 of the princes 8269 of the provinces 4082 went out 3318 z8799 first; 7223 and Benhadad 1130 sent out, 7971 z8799 and they told 5046 z8686 him, saying, 559 z8800 There are men y582 x376 come out 3318 z8804 of Samaria. 8111 x4480

 20:18 And he said, 559 z8799 Whether x518 they be come out 3318 z8804 for peace, 7965 take 8610 z8798 them alive; 2416 or whether x518 they be come out 3318 z8804 for war, 4421 take 8610 z8798 them alive. 2416

 20:19 So these x428 young men 5288 of the princes 8269 of the provinces 4082 came out 3318 z8804 of x4480 the city, 5892 and the army 2428 which x834 followed 310 them.

 20:20 And they slew 5221 z8686 every one 376 his man: 376 and the Syrians 758 fled; 5127 z8799 and Israel 3478 pursued 7291 z8799 them: and Benhadad 1130 the king 4428 of Syria 758 escaped 4422 z8735 on x5921 an horse 5483 with the horsemen. 6571

 20:21 And the king 4428 of Israel 3478 went out, 3318 z8799 and smote 5221 z8686 x853 the horses 5483 and chariots, 7393 and slew 5221 z8689 the Syrians 758 with a great 1419 slaughter. 4347

 20:22 ¶ And the prophet 5030 came 5066 z8799 to x413 the king 4428 of Israel, 3478 and said 559 z8799 unto him, Go, y3212 z8798 x1980 strengthen y2388 z8690 thyself, x2388 and mark, 3045 z8798 and see 7200 z8798 x853 what x834 thou doest: 6213 z8799 for x3588 at the return 8666 of the year 8141 the king 4428 of Syria 758 will come up 5927 z8802 against x5921 thee.

 20:23 And the servants 5650 of the king 4428 of Syria 758 said 559 z8804 unto x413 him, Their gods 430 [are] gods 430 of the hills; 2022 therefore x5921 x3651 they were stronger 2388 z8804 than x4480 we; but 199 let us fight 3898 z8735 against x854 them in the plain, 4334 and surely y3808 x518 we shall be stronger 2388 z8799 x3808 than x4480 they.

 20:24 And do 6213 z8798 this x2088 thing, 1697 Take y5493 z8685 the kings y4428 away, x5493 x4428 every man 376 out of his place, 4725 x4480 and put 7760 z8798 captains 6346 in their rooms: x8478

 20:25 And number 4487 z8799 x859 thee an army, 2428 like the army 2428 that thou hast lost, 5307 z8802 x4480 x853 horse 5483 for horse, 5483 and chariot 7393 for chariot: 7393 and we will fight y3898 z8735 against y854 x3898 them in the plain, 4334 [and] surely x518 x3808 we shall be stronger 2388 z8799 than x4480 they. And he hearkened 8085 z8799 unto their voice, 6963 and did x6213 so. y6213 z8799 x3651

 20:26 And it came to pass x1961 at the return 8666 of the year, 8141 that Benhadad 1130 numbered 6485 z8799 x853 the Syrians, 758 and went up 5927 z8799 to Aphek, 663 to fight 4421 against x5973 Israel. 3478

 20:27 And the children 1121 of Israel 3478 were numbered, 6485 z8719 and were all present, 3557 z8791 and went y3212 z8799 x1980 against y7125 z8800 x7121 them: and the children 1121 of Israel 3478 pitched 2583 z8799 before x5048 them like two 8147 little flocks 2835 of kids; 5795 but the Syrians 758 filled 4390 z8765 x853 the country. 776

 20:28 ¶ And there came 5066 z8799 a man 376 of God, 430 and spake 559 z8799 unto x413 the king 4428 of Israel, 3478 and said, 559 z8799 Thus x3541 saith 559 z8804 the LORD, 3068 Because x3282 x834 the Syrians 758 have said, 559 z8804 The LORD 3068 [is] God 430 of the hills, 2022 but he x1931 [is] not x3808 God 430 of the valleys, 6010 therefore will I deliver 5414 z8804 x853 all x3605 this x2088 great 1419 multitude 1995 into thine hand, 3027 and ye shall know 3045 z8804 that x3588 I x589 [am] the LORD. 3068

 20:29 And they pitched 2583 z8799 one 428 over against 5227 the other 428 seven 7651 days. 3117 And [so] it was, x1961 that in the seventh 7637 day 3117 the battle 4421 was joined: 7126 z8799 and the children 1121 of Israel 3478 slew 5221 z8686 of x853 the Syrians 758 an hundred 3967 thousand 505 footmen 7273 in one 259 day. 3117

 20:30 But the rest 3498 z8737 fled 5127 z8799 to Aphek, 663 into x413 the city; 5892 and [there] a wall 2346 fell 5307 z8799 upon x5921 twenty 6242 and seven 7651 thousand 505 of the men 376 [that were] left. 3498 z8737 And Benhadad 1130 fled, 5127 z8804 and came 935 z8799 into x413 the city, 5892 into an inner y2315 chamber. 2315

 20:31 ¶ And his servants 5650 said 559 z8799 unto x413 him, Behold x2009 now, x4994 we have heard 8085 z8804 that x3588 the kings 4428 of the house 1004 of Israel 3478 [are] merciful 2617 kings: 4428 let us, I pray thee, x4994 put 7760 z8799 sackcloth 8242 on our loins, 4975 and ropes 2256 upon our heads, 7218 and go out 3318 z8799 to x413 the king 4428 of Israel: 3478 peradventure x194 he will save 2421 z8762 x853 thy life. 5315

 20:32 So they girded 2296 z8799 sackcloth 8242 on their loins, 4975 and [put] ropes 2256 on their heads, 7218 and came 935 z8799 to x413 the king 4428 of Israel, 3478 and said, 559 z8799 Thy servant 5650 Benhadad 1130 saith, 559 z8804 I pray thee, x4994 let me x5315 live. 2421 z8799 y5315 And he said, 559 z8799 [Is] he yet x5750 alive? 2416 he x1931 [is] my brother. 251

 20:33 Now the men y582 x376 did diligently observe 5172 z8762 whether [any thing would come] from x4480 him, and did hastily 4116 z8762 catch 2480 z8686 [it]: and they said, 559 z8799 Thy brother 251 Benhadad. 1130 Then he said, 559 z8799 Go 935 z8798 ye, bring 3947 z8798 him. Then Benhadad 1130 came forth 3318 z8799 to x413 him; and he caused him to come up 5927 z8686 into x5921 the chariot. 4818

 20:34 And [Benhadad] said 559 z8799 unto x413 him, The cities, 5892 which x834 my father 1 took 3947 z8804 from x4480 x854 thy father, 1 I will restore; 7725 z8686 and thou shalt make 7760 z8799 streets 2351 for thee in Damascus, 1834 as x834 my father 1 made 7760 z8804 in Samaria. 8111 Then [said Ahab], I x589 will send thee away 7971 z8762 with this covenant. 1285 So he made 3772 z8799 a covenant 1285 with him, and sent him away. 7971 z8762

 20:35 ¶ And a certain 259 man 376 of the sons 1121 x4480 of the prophets 5030 said 559 z8804 unto x413 his neighbour 7453 in the word 1697 of the LORD, 3068 Smite 5221 z8685 me, I pray thee. x4994 And the man 376 refused 3985 z8762 to smite 5221 z8687 him.

 20:36 Then said 559 z8799 he unto him, Because x3282 x834 thou hast not x3808 obeyed 8085 z8804 the voice 6963 of the LORD, 3068 behold, x2009 as soon as thou art departed 1980 z8802 from x4480 x853 me, a lion 738 shall slay 5221 z8689 thee. And as soon as he was departed y3212 z8799 x1980 from x4480 x681 him, y681 a lion 738 found 4672 z8799 him, and slew 5221 z8686 him.

 20:37 Then he found 4672 z8799 another 312 man, 376 and said, 559 z8799 Smite 5221 z8685 me, I pray thee. x4994 And the man 376 smote 5221 z8686 him, so that in smiting 5221 z8687 he wounded 6481 z8800 [him].

 20:38 So the prophet 5030 departed, y3212 z8799 x1980 and waited 5975 z8799 for the king 4428 by x5921 the way, 1870 and disguised y2664 z8691 himself x2664 with ashes 666 upon x5921 his face. 5869

 20:39 And as x1961 the king 4428 passed by, 5674 z8802 he x1931 cried 6817 z8804 unto x413 the king: 4428 and he said, 559 z8799 Thy servant 5650 went out 3318 z8804 into the midst 7130 of the battle; 4421 and, behold, x2009 a man 376 turned aside, 5493 z8804 and brought 935 z8686 a man 376 unto x413 me, and said, 559 z8799 Keep 8104 z8798 x853 this x2088 man: 376 if x518 by any means y6485 z8736 he be missing, 6485 z8735 then shall thy life 5315 be x1961 for x8478 his life, 5315 or x176 else thou shalt pay 8254 z8799 a talent 3603 of silver. 3701

 20:40 And as thy servant 5650 was x1961 busy 6213 z8802 here x2008 and there, x2008 he x1931 was gone. 369 And the king 4428 of Israel 3478 said 559 z8799 unto x413 him, So x3651 [shall] thy judgment 4941 [be]; thyself x859 hast decided 2782 z8804 [it].

 20:41 And he hasted, 4116 z8762 and took x5493 x853 the ashes 666 away y5493 z8686 from x4480 x5921 his face; 5869 and the king 4428 of Israel 3478 discerned 5234 z8686 him that x3588 he x1931 [was] of the prophets. 5030 x4480

 20:42 And he said 559 z8799 unto x413 him, Thus x3541 saith 559 z8804 the LORD, 3068 Because x3282 thou hast let go 7971 z8765 out of [thy] hand 3027 x4480 x853 a man 376 whom I appointed to utter destruction, 2764 therefore thy life 5315 shall go x1961 for x8478 his life, 5315 and thy people 5971 for x8478 his people. 5971

 20:43 And the king 4428 of Israel 3478 went y3212 z8799 x1980 to x5921 his house 1004 heavy 5620 and displeased, 2198 and came 935 z8799 to Samaria. 8111